"And I find it kind of funny; I find it kind of sad,

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever hard,

I find it hard to tell you; I find it hard to take,

When people run it circles it's a very, very,

Mad world." - Mad World by Gary Jules

xxxxxx

Sam sighed, forcing his muscles to relax and forcing his mind slightly out of overdrive. The past few hours had been spent working through ways to out wit the bank robbers.

So far, no luck.

It had become painfully obvious to him that these guys were smarter than they were letting on. And, now that he was allowed to look around him without getting a foot to the face or threatened, he was starting to notice more and more about them.

For one thing, they didn't move like bank robbers, but like trained soldiers. Some of the movements these guys were making, down to even how they were holding their weapons, where ways he had only seen Will's team do.

And Will's team was scary when they wanted to be.

Which made Sam feel slightly better. For one, he knew the Autobots were outside and they were working to find a way to end it without any innocent people getting hurt. What, surprisingly, made Sam feel even more better; was the fact that Barricade was outside too.

He knew that if anyone would go way above and beyond what needed to be done, the Ex-Decepticon shock trooper would be the one to do it. Though in his mind, Sam reminded himself that while Barricade didn't follow the Decepticons anymore, he hadn't exactly sworn allegiance to the Autobots.

Next thing that made Sam slightly less nervous, Will was out there.

The Army Captain was smart, cunning, and able to manipulate words in a way that would get him the information he needed without even talking about something related to the topic. This had been proven to Sam several times while visiting Lennox after the Mission City attack.

But also, with Will on scene, it would only be a matter of time until the rest of his squad found out and slowly filtered in to help out where they could.

But, judging by the guys inside the bank, it would be like pitting on Army against the other.

Interesting to say the least.

Then again, one of those Armies consisted of giant robots who had been fighting war since before Eve ate the wrong apple.

xxxxxx

Barricade kept himself quiet and parked beside the command center, currently, forcing himself to ignore the sting caused by the bullets that had impacted his side panels while attempting to rescue the humans.

He sighed mentally.

What had changed since his arrival here on earth? It would appear that a few months ago, he wouldn't have even thought twice about a human in trouble, now he was out getting shot at just to save a few of them.

They were police officers. He reminded himself, remembering that the only 'family' he had, consisted of a rag-tag group of police officers that had accidentally discovered what he was and had accepted him anyway. They took me in. Where would my honor be if I didn't help them when they were injured?

Now there's a thought he never ever thought he would have. Honor? It was something he was short on during his 'tour' with the Decepticons. But now, being the only remaining one on earth, he found himself more neutral then anything else.

He watched as the Autobot Medic's hologram walked out of the command post and stood in front of him, hands placed on his hips. This movement lasted a few seconds before the hologram turned around and kept his gaze on the bank.

"Never thought I would see the day that you, of all mechs, would be risking his aft for humans."

Barricade mentally rolled his eyes. "There a point to that statement, Autobot?"

"Not really. Just keeping my nerves off of the bank for the time being. I'm a medic, not a war vet like Ironhide. Let Will and him figure out what to do. I just clean up the mess."

"Again, is there a point to this conversation, Autobot?"

Ratchet's hologram sighed. "Will you stop? It's obvious to anyone who pays attention for more than a split second to see that you don't consider yourself a Decepticon anymore. And can't you use my name for Primus sake? I mean, really, is it that hard for you to do?"

Barricade didn't answer at first, turning his sensors onto the bank itself.

"Fine, be that way. But I'd be willing to bet the Sam saw our little rescue. He's going to have questions for you when he gets out. Humans are curious that way."

"Who says I'll hang around to answer his questions?"

There was a pause on the comm. line. "You know as well as I do that you'll hang around. If I had any left in my storage, I'd bet my high grade that you're slowly turning back into your old self - before the war."

"We done here?"

Ratchet's hologram sighed, shaking his head again as he headed back into the command post.

xxxxxx

Will took the seat next to Ironhide's hologram. Currently, the Autobot War Vet was grumbling about how easy it would be to transform and use his cannons to end the robbery.

Will chuckled to himself. "Who knows, might get your chance." He said starting to think a little more and more. "Most times bank robbers will ask for a getaway vehicle. Normally, the police deny that request. But if we play our cards right, they'll get their car and we'll get our chance to do things your way."

There was a thoughtful look on Ironhide's face. "Actually." He began. "I have a better idea." He said, his gaze turning out the window of the command post to Bumblebee who was still parked in the parking lot. It only took Will a few seconds.

"Nice thinking."

"What?" Ratchet asked, now standing in front of Will and Ironhide. "Any time I leave you two alone to talk and I come back and hear "nice thinking", that normally means something is about to be blown up."

"Not this time." Will said shaking his head. "They are most likely going to want a getaway vehicle. Good thing about this is," He said, pointing out the window at Bumblebee. "We're already set up to give them one."

"Well what do you know." Ratchet said, arms folded across his hologram's chest. "Ironhide isn't all brawn after all."

"Hey!"

xxxxxx

A/N: I know it's short. I'm running on a little writers block, and the whole plan in this chapter saved my ass so I should be back on track soon. I need to do a little bit of planning and thinking, but I promise to make the next one longer. Much longer.